Steam generator cooking device method for operating and producing a steam generator and method for cooling a heating device

Abstract

A steam generator for cooking devices has a vessel and a heating device. Water to be evaporated is contained within a free volume of an inner chamber of the vessel, which forms a water-guiding region. This water is heated through a heating device at least up to boiling temperature, whereby steam is generated that flows along a steam-guiding region of the vessel. The heating device is a thick-film heating device applied to the surface area of the vessel on the water-guiding region. Both the water and the steam flowing past cool the heating device as the water level drops.

1 . A steam generator for a cooking device, with at least one heating device and at least one vessel with a heated area on said vessel, wherein said vessel has a water-guiding region for water to be evaporated, wherein said heating device is configured to heat said water to be evaporated up to its boiling temperature to become steam and wherein said vessel has a steam-guiding region to configured to guide said generated steam out of said vessel and to channel a flow of said generated steam, wherein said heated area comprising a thick-film provided on said water-guiding region and also on said steam-guiding region. 
   
   
       2 . A steam generator for a cooking device, with at least one heating device and at least one vessel with a heated area on said vessel, wherein said vessel has an inner chamber and a water-guiding region for water to be evaporated, wherein said heating device is configured to heat said water to be evaporated up to its boiling temperature to become steam and wherein said vessel has a steam-guiding region configured to guide said generated steam out of said vessel and to channel a flow of said generated steam, wherein a displacement body is arranged in said inner chamber of said vessel to reduce a free volume in said inner chamber, wherein said displacement body has an outer contour that extends substantially in parallel to an inner contour of said vessel and said outer contour has a corresponding similar form to said vessel. 
   
   
       3 . The steam generator according to  claim 2 , wherein said heating device is a thick-film heating device. 
   
   
       4 . The steam generator according to  claim 3 , wherein said heating device is applied to only one inner or outer surface area of said vessel. 
   
   
       5 . The steam generator according to  claim 2 , wherein said displacement body is a hollow body in tubular form, wherein one lower end region of said tubular displacement body is fixed to a surface of said inner chamber. 
   
   
       6 . The steam generator according to  claim 2 , wherein said vessel has a substantially beaker-like form and wherein said heating device is configured at least partly in one region of an outer surface area of said vessel, in one region of a base area of said vessel or in one region of an inner or outer surface area of a displacement body arranged in said vessel. 
   
   
       7 . The steam generator according to  claim 6 , wherein said heating device is configured in one lower wall region of said vessel, wherein said heating device envelops said vessel in said region of said surface area of said vessel at least partly and thus defines said water-guiding region. 
   
   
       8 . The steam generator according to  claim 7 , wherein a ratio between a diameter of said vessel and a height of a region of said vessel covered by said heating device is between 0.25 and 10, wherein said height of said region covered by said heating device and said water-guiding region substantially defines a minimum fill height of said vessel. 
   
   
       9 . The steam generator according to  claim 2 , wherein said heating device is a fill level sensor for said water to be evaporated in said vessel or a temperature sensor. 
   
   
       10 . The steam generator according to  claim 9 , wherein said steam generator has a control device for evaluation of a sensor signal emitted by said fill level sensor and wherein said heating device has a positive temperature coefficient. 
   
   
       11 . The steam generator according to  claim 2 , wherein a heat output of said heating device is between 25 W/cm 2  and 75 W/cm 2 . 
   
   
       12 . The steam generator according to  claim 2 , wherein a heat output per water volume in said vessel without said displacement body is approx. 10 W/ml and with said displacement is approx. 30 W/ml to 100 W/ml. 
   
   
       13 . A cooking device with said steam generator according to  claim 2 , wherein said cooking device is a steam cooker. 
   
   
       14 . A method for operation of a heating device for said steam generator comprising at least one heating device and at least one vessel with a heated area on said vessel, wherein said vessel has an inner chamber and a water-guiding region for water to be evaporated, wherein said heating device is configured to heat said water to be evaporated up to its boiling temperature to become steam and wherein said vessel has a steam-guiding region configured to guide said generated steam out of said vessel and to channel a flow of said generated steam, wherein a displacement body is arranged in said inner chamber of said vessel to reduce a free volume in said inner chamber, wherein said displacement body has an outer contour that extends substantially in parallel to an inner contour of said vessel and said outer contour has a corresponding similar form to said vessel, comprising the steps of:
 measuring a first temperature value of said water to be evaporated;   measuring a second temperature value of said heating device; and   determining from said first and second temperature values a status of said steam generator.   
   
   
       15 . A method for operation of a heating device for a steam generator according to  claim 14 , wherein said status comprises detecting a fill level of said steam generator through an electrical resistance of said heating device. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said heating device is switched off when said resistance of said heating device exceeds a specified value or a current or a power output falls below a specified value or if said values undergo a specified relative change. 
   
   
       17 . A method for cooling a heating device of a steam generator according to  claim 14 , wherein said heating device is cooled in a steam-guiding region by steam flowing past said heating device. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said heating device is cooled when said water to be evaporated is evaporated to an extent that its surface lies below one upper edge of said heating device.